Money in the Banana Stand

It's been over a week since the new Arrested Development episodes became available on Netflix, and I've only watched three. Three. This is pretty sad for us, but we've been keeping busy and having a lot on our "personal plate" - one birthday (three celebration dinners and one celebration lunch), two summer colds, one fever, one new job, one new car - in no particular order. Yikes!

I've never had a Bluth frozen banana, or any frozen banana for that matter, so we decided to celebrate the return of one of our favorite shows by making some. I love reading the adventures of Hither and Thither, and particularly loved the post where they showed how to make Homemade Magic Shell...that also doubles as an easy topping to frozen bananas.

Here's how you make it, adapted from H&T.

Frozen Bananas

2 bananas, cut in half (ripe but firm)

Roughly 1 cup of chocolate chips

2 Tbsp of coconut or vegetable oil (I used vegetable)

Sprinkles,
nuts, coconut, other assorted toppings

Popsicle or lollipop sticks

1. Carefully insert a lollipop stick into each banana half and place on baking
sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Freeze for at least 15 minutes.

2. Melt the chocolate with the oil in a microwaveable bowl (checking and stirring it
every 30 seconds) and stir until smooth. Roll each banana half in the chocolate until it's covered; quickly sprinkle with
topping, if using.

3. Place back onto parchment paper and keep in freezer for 10-20 minutes for the chocolate to set. If storing for later, move to an airtight container in the
freezer.

The "frozen" banana was actually cool and soft, like ice cream. The nutty topping we used is a combination of peanuts, walnuts, and pecans crunched up that I found in the baking section. Highly.recommend. A perfect summertime treat.